Automatic pin-setting machine.



Patented July 11, 1916.

12 $HEETSSHEET 1- E. HEDENSKOOG.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. I914.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATIGN FILED JUNE 6,1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEG. I914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACH\NE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEG, 1914.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5 1914.

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Patented July 11,

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- AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,19l4- Patented July 11, 1916.

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E. HEDENSKOOG.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1914.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

-APPLICAT|ON FILED JUNE 6, 1914.

\ Patented July 11, 1916.

12 SHEETS-SHEET l2.

ERNEST HEDENSKOOG, OFMUSKJEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK- lBALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, 01E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION" CF DELAWARE.

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7 AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE.

Patented July 111, 191%.

Application filed .1 une 6, 19M. Serial No. M3372.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that L-Ennns'r HEDENSKOOG, a citizen of the United States, residing at liluskegon. in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented ,certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic .lin-Sctting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention broadly isto provide a machine to do all the work of a pin boy in setting pins upon a bowling alley, returning the ball to players'position and setting the pins in proper position upon the alley bed and which will perform each of these operations more quickly and more accurately than they have been performed by the pin boy.

The present invention has relation to the machine forming the subject-matter of my application filed February 13, 1914:, Serial No.- 818,449, and presents certain novel mechanisms and devices, and combinations and arrangements'of parts which may be incorporated in such a machine.

The first ball rolled by the player may knock down all of the pins or it may only knock down some of them. If it knocks down all of the pins it is desirable, of course, to immediately place a'new set upon the alley for the next player and it he knocks down less than all of them to remove those that have fallen in order to give the player an opportunity to roll a second ball at the pins left standing. A player, however, is likely to thoughtlessly cause a new-set to be made after the first ball has been rolled and some pins left standing. In order that such a mistake may be readily corrected it 1s a further object of my present invention to provide mechanisms and devices under the control of the player which will permit the machine to automatically remove in the next operation after the mistake has occurred all of the pins that were knocked down by the players firstball, thereby leaving standing the proper number of pins properly placed upon the alley for his second ball. ,S'uch mechanisms and devices permit also the player to practice rolling the balls at particular combinations of pins. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically removing from the machine and from the alley all broken pins which, if left, might be set ing my present invention; Fig. 2 is an en larged side elevation of the mechanismprov ded to control and time the operation of the pin setter and sweeper; 1 1g. 3 is atop plan view of the same with a portion of certain parts removed as will later appear;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially onthe line 14 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the alley pit; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing the elevating mechanism ;'Fig. 8 is a front elevation of one of the flights of the conveyer; Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line -9-9 of Fig. 8: Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial longitudinal vertical section through the elevating, assembling and distributing mechanisms; Fig. 11 is a ver-' tical transverse partial sectional view taken.

rearwardly of the assembly mechanism;

the pinsetter frame; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view. taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14: is-a top plan view of the pin lifting magnet frame and the pin lifting magnets; Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is an enlarged section through'one of the magnets taken substantially on the line 1616 of Fig. 14; Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the operating control located at the players end of the alley; Fig. 18 is aside elevation of the same; Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 19-19 of Fig. 17 Fig. 20 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the control shown in Fig. 17, and Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view' of the wiring provided for the various electrical cir of the machine.

11 pin setting machine in which are corporated the various mechanisms and dealley pit 33, and end wall 34. Upon the 4 side walls or kick-backs a suitable main rear end of the frame.

frame 35 is supported. A pin'setter comprising a frame 36 and various other parts to be later described is mounted to move vertically in, the main frame 35 ,and is normally retained in elevated position by chains 37, each fastened at one end in suitable fashion as by the hook 38 to the pin setter frame and passing over sprocket wheels 39, means being provided to actuate the sprocket wheels at appropriate times to raise and lower the pin setter frame. v Any number of chains 37, of course, may be provided and at least one shouldbe secured to the front end of the frame and at least one also to the Each rear chain is preferably trained overan idle sprocket wheel 41 disposed above the pin setter frame so that the point of suspension is directly above the fastening of this" chain to the pin setter frame. The pin setter frame is guided in its movement by one or more angle irons 42 arranged vertically and each secured at its upper ends 43 and 44 to the main frame. A channel iron 45 secured at its lower end to the pin setter frame is arranged to embrace one of the flangesof the angle'iron so that the angle iron acts'as a guide when the pin setter frame is moved vertically.

The sprocket wheels 39 are fixed upon a shaft 47 journaled to turn freely in brackets 48 upon the top of the main frame 35. Upon this shaft a pinion 49 (Fig. 2) is fastened which imparts. movement to the sprocket wheels in response to the pressing of a button at the players end of the alley.

A counterweight 51 is secured to the free ends of the chains 37 and reduces materially the power needed to raise and lower the frame as the machine is operated. The pinion 49 and all the relatively moving parts of the pin setting machine receive their power from a' motor 52 secured to the main frame 35 at 53. This motor continuously drives a main power shaft 54 (Figs. 1 to 4) through a suitable train of gearing 55. The shaft 54 is journaled at its forward end in three arms 56 of a long bracket member 57 which is supported in horizontal position above the shelf 53 by the main power shaft at one side and a suitable support 57 (Fig. 1) at the other. The two outer arms 56 are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to permit the various devices and mechanisms provided to control and time the operations of the pin setting machine to be positioned between them.

The alley comprises A. sleeve 58 (Figs. 2 to 4) which for the purposes of the present invention may be considered a hollow shaft embraces the main power shaft and extends from adjacent one outer arm 56 (at the right in Fig. 3) to the other outer arm 56 (at the left in this figure). This sleeve is adapted to be locked to the clutch 59 of any preferred construction. A cam or eccentric 61 (Fig. 4). carrying a band 62 is loosely mounted on the sleeve 58 and a bell-crank 63 (Fig. 2) having a long arm 64 and a short arm 65 is pivoted at 66 to a support 67 extending upwardly from the middle arm 56 of the bracket member 57 and directly above the bearing in this arm for the sleeve 58. The free end of the short arm 65 of the bell-crank is disposed substantially vertically above the band 62 and is connected thereto by links 68, so that as the cam or eccentric 61 turns with the sleeve 58, as will be later described, the bell-crank will oscillate vertically about its pivot 66.

The long arm of the bell-crank is rovided with an elongated slot 69 (Fig. 2) to which 'a driving rod 71 for the pinion 49 is connected by a pin 72. The driving rod extends outwardly over the pinion 49 and is provided along its lower surface with a rack 73 adapted to engage with the teeth ofthe pinion to rotate the pinion as the bell-crank 63-is moved by theeccentric.

The pin setting machine embodying my invention performs two separate main operations, one setting the pins in proper position upon the alley bed and the other removing the deadwood after the first ball has been rolled along the alley. In the first operation the pin setter frame is lowered to just above the alley bed and from this position deposits the pins accurately upon the spots. In removing the pins the frame is lowered only to the height of the standing pins which it lifts above the alley while the pins which have fallen upon the alley bed are swept in the alley pit, after which operation the pin setter returns and remain power shaft by a ing rod is located at the lower end of the 2 slot, 2'. e., the end of the slot nearest the pivotal connection of the bell-crank which is its position throughout the deadwood op eration. The eccentric 61 is normally locked to the sleeve 58 and during the removal of deadwood moves constantly therewith. When it is desired to make a new set the areas Wt rod 71 is lifted, as will be later explained, until the pin 72 engages the upper end of the slot 69 where it is locked in position by a hook 74': provided upon the end of a lever 7 5 pivoted at 76 to the long arm of the bell crank and provided at its lower. end with a stop 77 adapted to engage a yielding stop 78 secured upon an arm 79 provided upon the support 67, the engagement of these two stops serving to retain the hook 74 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2. A spring 81 engaged at one end to the long arm of the bell-crank and at the other to the lever 75 moves the lever upon movement 'ofjthe bell-crank from the normal position shown to pull the hook across the slot and retain the pin 72 at the upper end of the slot after the driving rod has been lifted preparatory to the making of a new set. The lower end of the lever 75 is provided with a second hook 82 adapted to be projected across the lower end of the slot 69 to engagethe pin 72 during the operation of the machine in removing deadwood.

After the standing pins are lifted in removing the deadwood and before the opera tion of the pin setter frame in placing a new set of pins upon the alley, the alley is cleared bv a sweeper which will now be described. This sweeper consists in the present instance of a sweeper blade 84 (Fig. 1) pivotally suspended at 85 from a sweepercarrying frame 86. This. frame is provided at its lower end with a plate 87 extending transverselyof the alley against which the blade 84 rests during the active part of its stroke or the movement carrying it normally across the alley bed to sweep the pins into the alley pit. Upon this plate 87 a pair ofangularly extending braces 88 are provided. Each of these braces is pivot'ally connected at its end 89 distant from the plate 87 to a rigid link 91 which is pivotally connected to the main frame at 92. A shaft 93 is mounted in suitable bearings in the main frame to extend transverselythereof and upon this shaft is secured an outwardly extending arm 94 pivotally connected at .its outer end 95 with each brace 88, said arms 94: being connected with the braces at a point inwardly of the point of the pivotal connection between the link 91 and'the end 88 of this brace. The shaft 93 is supported rearwardly of and at a greater height above the alley than the pivotal connections between the links 91 and the main frame. Rotation of the-shaft 93 in a counter-clock wise direction, viewing Fig. 1, will, therefore, move the sweeper downwardly toward and rearwardly over the alley with the sweeper blade 8-1 suflicientlynear the alley to sweep all of the pins into the pit. The plate 87 is disposed during this movement at a height above the alley floor greater than the diameter of the balls used in playing upon the alley so that if the ball is rolled along the alley during the operation of. the

sweeper it W111 only engage the sweeper blade 84 and lift the same out of its way. Secured also to the shaft 93 is an outwardly extending arm a 97 to the outer end of which is connected a efficient operation.

The mechanism for operating the sweeper consists of a cam or eccentric 101 (-Figs. 1, 2 and 3) mounted loosely upon the sleeve 58 and provided with a band 102 to one end of which is pivoted a driving rod 103. The driving rod 103 extends wardly'alongside the shaft 93 and is provided upon its lower end with a rack 104 meshing with a gear 105 fixedupon the shaft 93, so that vertical reciprocation of the rod 103 imparts an oscillatory movement to the shaft 93 and actuates the sweeper moving it first rearwardly across the alley bed and then back again to normal position.

The operation of the sweeper and pin" setter are controlled and timed by a mechsweeper and reduce the force necessary to its erative throughout appropriate intervals.

When a new set is to be made it is desirable that as soon as the sweeper has finished its rearward or sweeping movement along the alley the pin setter frame should start downward'ly to deposit the set of pins upon the alley. The timing mechanism to be now described causes the eccentric 101 to rotate with the sleeve 58 as soon as the sleeve 58 is locked to the shaft 54. The first half revolution of the shaft and sleeve moves the sweeper along the alley bed to clear the alley at the end of which time the eccentric 62 is engaged with the sleeve and the pin 'set'ter frame started downwardly to deposit a new set of pins.

At the completion of the first whole revolution of the sleeve 58 the sweeper has returned to normal position and the eccentric 101 is unlocked from the sleeve 58 and the pin setter frame is in lower position and is ready to deposit a new set of pins upon the alley bed. The frame returns empty and arrives at its upper or normal positlon at the completionof the first half of the second revolution of the shaft and at this point its eccentric 62 is released and the operation is'completed.

In the operation of clearing deadwood the pin setter frame precedes the sweeper in operation and during the first half revolution the sweeper-directing cam or eccentric is unlocked from the sleeve 58. At the end of this first half revolution the pin setter frame has descended to the tops of the standing pins and the sweeper-directing cam or eccentric 101 is locked to the sleeve 58. During the second half of the first revolution the pin setter frame returns to elevated or normal position carrying the standing pins and the sweeper moves rearwardly along the alley bed to clear off the fallen ones. During the first half of the second revolution the sweeper returns to normal position and the pin setter frame approaches the alley to replace the pins it has lifted preparatory to the action ofthe sweeper. At the end of this half revolution the sweeper-directing eccentric 101 is unlocked from the sleeve 58 and the sweeper remains idle throughout the last half revolution during which the pin setter frame returns to its normal position after having replaced the standing pins. The sleeve 58 is caused to make two revolutions with the shaft 54 at each operation of the machine by a disk 106 mounted rigidly upon a gear 107 (Figs. 3, 4') loosely mounted upon a stub shaft 108 journaled in the middle arm 56 of the bracket member 57 The gear 107 is in mesh with a pinion 109 splined upon the sleeve 58, the ratio of the number of teeth in the pinion 109 to the number of teeth in the gear 107 being 1 to 2, so that the pinion will make two complete revolutions to one revolution of the gear. In the cylindrical face of the disk a recess 111 is provided in which a roller 112 carried upon the end of the free arm of the main clutch lever 113 rests while the clutch is thrown out. When the lever is moved to throw in the clutch the roller is withdrawn from the recess and the initial rotation of the sleeve 58 with the shaft'moves the recess out of position to receive the roller, so that the roller must ride upon the outer surface of the disk throughout a complete revolution of the gear 107 at which time the recess will agaln be in a position to receive the roller. While the roller is riding upon the outer face of the disk the clutch is positively held in engagement and a spring 110 secured at 114 to one end of the lever 113 and at the other end at 115 to the central arm 56 of the bracket member 57 pulls the lever about its pivot 116 to throw out the clutch at this point.

A magnet 117 is mounted adjacent the end of the lever 113 carrying the roller 112 and this end of the lever is provided with an armature 117 adapted to be attracted by the magnet when the magnet is energized, so that energization of this magnet will throw in the clutch and move the roller-and thereby cause the sleeve 58 to make two revolutions with the shaft in the manner hereinbefore described.

Both eccentrics 62 and 101 are normally locked to the sleeve 58 by devices which will now be described. Each eccentric is provided with a hub 120 within which is posi tioned a collar 118 (Fig. 2). This collar is tight upon the sleeve. Through this collar and through the sleeve are disposed a pair of diametrically arranged recesses 119, and an aperture 121 is provided in each hub 120 which is adapted to aline at appropriate intervals with the apertures 119. Slidably mounted in each of .the apertures 121 and normally extending into an aperture 119 alining therewith 1s a pin 122. Each pin 122 has an enlarged soft iron head forming an armature 123 for an unlocking magnet to be later described and is slidably carried by an arm 124 rigidly mounted at 125 on the eccentric. A helical spring 126 embraces each pin and is positioned between the arm 124 and a 'stop 127 secured upon the pin. The spring 126 normally pushes the pin 122 inwardly of the sleeve 58 and the shaft 54 so that each pin 122 is normally held in engagement in appropriate recesses 119 and 121 to lock the eccentrics to the sleeve.

The setter eccentric 61 is adapted to be unlocked by a magnet 128 mounted upon a platform or shelf 35 secured in the main frame 35 in position to attract the armature 123 of the pin controlling this eccentric when the parts are to be arranged for the new-set operation and a similar magnet 129 similarly mounted is provided to attract the armature 123 of the pin normally locking the sweeper-directing eccentric 101 to the sleeve 58 when the deadwood is to be removed. The magnet 128 is energized when the machine is started for the making of a new set, the withdrawal of the pin 122 carryin its armature serving to unlock the setterlrecting eccentric until the diametrically opposed recess 119 is in position to receive the pin long before which time the magnet 128 has been deenergized. This diametrically arranged aperture 119 is positioned for the engagement by the pin 122 at the end of the first half revolution of the shaft. A similar operation occurs with the eccentric 101 in the removal of deadwood, the energization of the magnet 129 serving to delay the operation of the sweeper throughout the first half revolution of the shaft in this operation.

The eccentrics 61 and 101 are unlocked from the shaft by mechanical means during the remainder of the operations at proper intervals. The mechanism for accomplishing' this purpose will only be briefly described in the present application as it is substantially the same as the mechanism provided for this purpose in my earlier application Serial N 0. 818,449. This mechanism consists primarily of a pair of gears' 131 mounted upon a stub shaft 132 and positioned between the eccentrics 61 and 101. The gears 131 mesh with gear teeth 133 provided in the sleeve 58, the number of teeth ma e in the sleeve'being to the number of teeth on the gears as 1 to 2, so that the gears receive one revolution to two of the sleeve. Each of the gears carries a disk 134: which is provided with suitable cams for engaging the upper surfaces of the armature 123 at appropriate intervals. This engagement can only be accomplished when t e armatures and eccentrics are in normal position as at other times the armaturesmove with the eccentrics about the shaftas a center while the gears rotate about the shaft 132. It may be stated that the disk adapted to move the pin 122 of the eccentric 61 is provided with a single outwardly extending portion which reaches its lowermost point during the travel of the disk at the termination of the third half revolution of the sleeve58. Such an .of the fact that at the end of the third half revolution in this operation the armature is disposed vertically above the sleeve and shaft and the pin setter frame is replacing the standing pins. In the making of a new set, however, this portion engages the armature to render the pin setter frame idle during the last half revolution of the pin setting machine for in theoperation of making a new set the armature of the pin setter control is in normal position at the end of the third half revolution and the pin setter frame has performed its duties and the pin may be removed from the recess 119in which it is engaged.

The disk which controls the operation of the sweeper-directing eccentric after the first half revolution of the sleeve is provided with two outwardly extending portlons, one adapted to be in lowermost position at the end of the first revolution and the other at the end of the first half of the second revolution.

lution. In making a new set the swee er 'must be disconnected at the end of the rst whole revolution at which time the armature controlling it is in normal position after having swept the alley. After being disengaged at this point its locking pin must be preyented from enterin the diametrically opposed recess 119 whic presents itself at the end of the first half of the second revo- This is accomplished by the other outwardly extending portion which at this instant is in position to engage the armature 123 of this pin. In removing deadwood the armature controlling the sweeper-directing eccentric is vertically above the shaft and sleeve at the end of the first complete revolution so that the outwardly extending cam presented at this point in the operation is ineffective and the sweeper is disconnected at the end of the first half of the second till 59 and the setter and sweeper magnets 128 and 129 are connected to push-buttons or switches located adjacent players position by suitable circuits [to be later described and it is intended that the new-set operation,

, or the removal of deadwood operation will be accomplished by momentarily closing the revolution of the sleeve one or the other of the eccentrics 61 and 101, depending upon wh ch operation is desired after which the actlon is automatically and mechanically controlled.

In the removal of deadwood the pin setter frame operates substantially continuously, the movement of the sweeper rearward ly oyer the alley bed to sweep it clear of pms occurring while the pin setter is traveling up to normal position with the standing pins and the movement returning it to normal position occurring when the pin setter frame is moving downwardly to replace them, and in the making of a new set the movements of the sweeper and setter occupy only three one-half revolutions of the shaft and move simultaneously during the middle half of the three. As has already been described the driving rod 71 of the pin setter frame is normally engaged in the lower end of the slot 69 of the bellcrank lever 63. This is its position during the removal of deadwood. When, however,

a new set is to be made and the longer travel of the frame is required the end of the driving rod carrying the pin 72 is raised by the first action of the control for the sweeper which, as has been stated, precedes in action the pin setter frame and its control. This is accomplished by a rod 141 mounted to reciprocate vertically in a bearing 142 provided on an outer arm 56 of the bracket member 57. The lower end 143 of this rod is connected by a pin-1 l4 to the sweeper driving rod103 and its upper end is flattened to provide a shoe 145 adapted to engage beneath a pin 146 carried by the pin setter driving rod 71. The sweeper-directing cam causes the driving rod 103 of the sweeper to move upwardly during the first half revolution of the sleeve and this driving rod, therefore, imparts an upward vertical movement to the rod 141. Inasmuch as the bellcrank 63 is idle and in normal position during this half revolution the books 7 1 and 82 are inoperative and the pin 72 slides readily to the upper end of the slot 69. At the end of the first half revolution the bellcrank starts its movement toward the left (viewing the figure) and the hook 74 engages under the pin and retains the driving rod in engagement with the upper end of the slot 69 where it is retained until the bellcrank and pin setter frame are again in normal position.

As'has already been described, the spring 81 normally holds the lever 75 with the two hooks 74 and 82 across the slot 69. In order that the rod 141 may lift the sweeper driving rod 71 from the lower. position to the upper, should any loose movement of the bell-crank prevent engagement between the stops 77 and 78, I provide a movable stop 14 pivoted upon the angle iron 79 in,- termediate its ends at 150 and pivoted at one end to one end of a link 148. The other end of the link 148 is pivoted to the shoe 145 of the rod 141 at 149. The upward movement of the rod 141 will cause the stop 147 to engage the pin 77 on the lever75 and move it out of the path of travel of the pin 72 which connects the driving rod 71v with the bell-crank. This permits the easy release of the pin 72 even when the bellcrank is not in accurate normal position and prevents the machine from becoming inoperative should the bell-crank become so loosely connected to the support 67 that the pin 7 does not engage the stop 78 on the arm 79. The stop 78 may be omitted, if desired, and the movable stop 147 relied upon to shift the lever 75 carrying the hooks. The upper hook 74 is preferably cut away at 151 to permit the pin 72 to move it out of its way as it approaches the upper end of the slot if this hook should be projected across the slot at this time.

The driving rods 71 and 103 of the pin 'setter and of the sweeper are positively held in engagement with the pinions which they actuate. The driving rod 71 is held against the pinion 49 by a saddle 152 hearing upon the upper surface of the driving rod and having side members 153 loosely journaled on the shaft 47. A spring 154 fastened at one end to the saddle and at the other to the main frame pulls the saddle toward the left (viewing Fig. 2) and causes the saddle thereby to move the driving rod 71 back to normal position when the hook 74 is released after performing a new-set operation. The driving rod 103 is held against the pinion 105 (Fig. 1) by a cross member 155 of the main frame.

The pins are conducted from the alley pit to the setter frame and the balls are returned to players position by the continuously operating mechanisms which will now be described. The alley pit 33 is constructed to deliver the pins and balls through an aperture 161.(Fig. 1) in the rear wall 34 of the pit. In the center of the pit 33 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) a plurality of vertically disposed stationary ribs 162, extending longitudinally of the alley and spaced well apart, are provided. A number of movable members 163 are placed between these ribs so that the ribs and movable members alternate. The movable members are supported from two shafts 164 disposed through their ends. The shafts 164 are journaled in suitable bearings 164 and extend through the ribs and through the movable members. Each shaft carries a cam 165 for each movable member, said cams being arranged to liftthe members bodily, vertically and in unison, bringing them up above the tops of the ribs 162 adjacent the front of the alley and carrying them back toward the rear of the alley and down beneath the top'surface of the stationary ribs. This-lifts the pins as they fall in the pit and carries them rearwardly toward the aperture 161 a ate at each revolution of the shafts 164. The shafts 164 rotate together by a chain gearing or drive 166 and they receive their power from a continuously moving conveyer, which will be later described, through the shaft 169. driven by the conveyer and mounted in bearings 171. The shaft 169 has a beveled gear 172 meshing with a pinion gear 173 on one of the shafts 164.

At each side of the mechanism just described the pit is provided with an inclined wall or base portion 167 extending from the outer movable members upwardly to adjacent the side walls or kick-backs 32, so that the pins and walls will be deflected down onto this mechanism. It is one of the functions of the mechanism located in the bottom of the pit to deliver the balls through the aperture 161 in the rear wall of the pit ahead of the pins, so that the balls may be quickly returned to players position. As will be later apparent the pins in the present embodiment of my invention need not be rapidly carried across the pit by' reason of their expeditious handling after they are delivered out of the pit and until they are received by the pin setter frame. The pitv bottom just described will permit the balls to roll across without any obstruction to their passage by pins which may have fallen ahead of them into the alley pit. Balls are much heavier and are ordinarily traveling at appreciable momentum. These pins are readily moved out of their way by the balls and the balls pass through the aperture ahead of the pins. The movable members and the ribs are preferably provided with suitable strips 1.68 on their top faces to reduce the noise which is incidental to the operation of the device and to save in part, at least, the pins and balls from injury.

After being delivered out of the alley pit the balls are lifted to the return track and the pins to other mechanisms above the setter frame by an elevating mechanism which comprises a continuously moving conveyer 181 which passes beneath the aperture-161 and travels in a vertical plane as will be seen from Fig. 7. A conveyer casing 182 is located rearwardly of the back wall 34 of the meaeaa adjacent surface of the conveyer casing by a pair of guides 186, preferably also of metal. The conveyer receives its movement from sprocket wheels 187 mounted upon the main power shaft 54. Theconveyer consists of a pair of side chains 188 and a plurality of flights 189 for carrying balls and pins. Each side chain consists of a plurality of links 191 pivotally connected together by pins 192, each at which pins carries a roller 193 adapted to roll between the guides 186 and the casing wall. The links 191 and the pins 192 are arranged to provide a sprocket chain at each side of the conveyer .adapted to engage the teeth of the sprocket wheel 187 to impart movement. to the conveyer. The shaft 169 which actuates the movable members in the bottom of the pit is prowidth of the conveyer is preferably equal substantially to the length of a pin, so that when a pin rests upon a flight its ends will be adjacent the side walls of the casing. Each of these flights consists of a single member, the top surface 194 of which is curved from end to end and slopes toward the casing wall 182 extending upwardly alongside the forward travel of the conveyer. The upper portion of the flight slopes rearwardly from the forward edge of this curved surface and is cut away toward the outer edges to provide a rest195 for the head of the pin which may lie upon the flight in one of two positions, c; with the head extending toward the player or with the head extending away from him.

In order that the pins may be accurately positioned upon the flight I providein each side wall 196 of the casing which is extended upwardly alongside the wall 182 an aperture 197 out completely through this wall, the inner and upper bounding surfaces 198 of which are inclined as shown in Fig. 7. A metallic plate 199 is secured on the outside of each side Wall'196 and closes the aperture 197. If a pin then iscaught by the flight with its head bearing against one of the side walls of the .casing the head end will fall into the aperture 197 when the flight reaches this point in the travel. As the flight approaches the upper end of the aperture the head end will engage the inclined faces 198 and will he slid back into accurate position upon the flight. As the apertures 197 are located adjacent the bottom of the upper travel of the conveyer this arrangement prevents pins in large measure from falling back off the flights irito the bottom portion of the casing and thereby materially speeds up the action of the machine, as the pin having once been caught by the flight is carried immediately upwardly by the conveyer.

The upward travel of the conveyer and the Wall 182 is inclined somewhat from the vertical so that the pins and balls carried by the conveyer move upwardly in contact with this wall. A recess 201 (Figs. 7, 10) extends longitudinally and centrally of the conveyer to above the vertical height of the ball return track 202. An aperture 203 is provided in the wall 182 above the return track to permit the balls to leave the conveyer at this point, when-they'fall upon a plurality of inclined slats 204 down which they roll. to the return track. These slats are spaced a art a sufiicient distance to permit any bro (en pins to fall between them. The aperture 203 is too narrow to permit the pin to pass through as the conveyer carries it upwardly, but a broken pin having materially less dimension than the whole or perfect pins may readily pass through with the balls and be delivered outside of the machine. As the conveyer moves upwardly the pins, carried upon the flights extend across the aperture 203 and engage the cas-- ing at their butt ends, the head ends lying over upon a head-rest 195.

t The pins are delivered by the conveyer 181 to a chute 205, the upper end of which is disposed beneath the upperedge of the wall 182. As each flight reaches this point the pins fall over the top edge of thewall and into the chute from which they are assembled by an assembling mechanism to be later described. The pins are caused to enter the chute butt end foremost,.,the head end of the pin being retarded by the head rest 195 until the butt end has left the flight after which it slides off and the pin moves down the chute. Itwill be noted from Fig. 10 that the upper edge of the wall 182 is lower at the left (viewing the figure) than at the right. This is to reduce the drop of the pin into the chute andthereby minimize the noise incidental to the transfer of the pins from the conveyer into the chute. The pins are moved from the bottom of the chute 205 onto an assembly shelf 206 by a conveyer 207.

The conveyer in the present instance consists of a chain 208 trained over a pair of 207 is actuated and advanced one step by a device similar to that described in my prior' application, Serial No. 818,449, which, as it forms no part of the present invention, is only shown generally on the drawings at 210. It may be stated, however, that this mechanism is actuated by the pin itself upon arriving at the bottom of the chute through various members which temporarily connect the conveyer with a continually moving device. Each time the conveyer is advanced it carries the pin which has caused the actuation thereof off of the chute and.

' onto the assembly shelf 206 and carries also each pin already resting on the shelf forward a like distance. In the present instance the chute is provided adjacent its bottom with a raised portion 214 upon which the head of the pin rests until it has moved onto the shelf.

Extending outwardly from the sprocket wheel 209, which is the sprocket wheel adj acent the chute, are a plurality (six in the present instance) of curved blades 215 adapted to engage behind the neck of the pin to cause the pin to be moved bodily and quickly off the shelf. These blades are mounted so that one of them is presented with each conveyer blade 213, so that when the conveyer blade engages the bottom portion of the pin and the corresponding sprocket blade 215 engages the head the pin is moved in substantial parallelism to itself onto the assembly shelf. The blades are preferably inclined so as to somewhat liftthe'pin from the bottom of the chute as it carries it forward and prevent it catching on the abutments which are provided to hold the pinson the assembly shelf. Each blade forms a link in the conveyer chain 208 and is provided with a rearwardly extending reinforce 216' adapted to enter into a link located rearwardly a substantial distance from the blade to stiffen it in itsoperation. This re-' inforce may be lifted out of engagement with the chain when the portion of the chain carrying its blade moves around a sprocket wheel, as is seen in Fig. 11.

The assembly shelf in the present'instance consists of a rectangular frame of angle irons having front and rear longitudinal members 218, 217. The shelf is pivoted at its ends at 219 in the main frame of the machine and is normally disposed in the inclined position shown in Fig. 10. The for-' ,ward side of the frame is disposed at a substantial distance from an upwardly extendlng abutment 221 against which the butt ends of certain pins, as will be later described, rest when in position on the shelf. The shelf is retained in normal position until a full set of ten pins have been collected thereon at which time it is automatically permitted to drop to deposit the pins in chutes 222 and 223 which carry the pins to a statlonary-distributing frame 22 i mounted directly above the in setter frame 36. This may be accomplis ed by any preferred automatic mechanism, although that described in my earlier application, already mentioned, 1s thought to be preferable.

The distributing .frame 224 is mounted closely beneath the assembly shelf and in order that all of the pins may be delivered qulckly from the assembly shelf to the distributmg frame I prefer to deliver the pins to be set up in the first two rows and which are consequently located in the distributing frame ad acent its forward end, or the end remote from the assembly shelf, at a higher level than those to be set up in the last two rows. I To this end the abutment 221 is cut away to provide an aperture 225 opposite the normal position of each of the pins to beset up in these rows. When the assembly shelf is in normal position thisaperture is closed by a plate 226 secured upon the assembly shelf by a bracket 227 so that the plate covers the aperture 225 and prevents a pin sliding 'therethrough when the shelf is in normal position. The bracket 227 is hollow and ex- .tendin centrally upwardly therethrough is a rigi support 228 adapted to engage beneath the pm when the shelf is lowered and retain it in normal position until the plate 226 has passed downwardly out ofthe way. In the present instance the support 228 consists ofa member fastened on the main frame 35 and extending upwardly into the bracket 227 where it has an enlarged head 229 adapted to effectively support the pin. Downward movement of the shelf is limited by a cushion stop 231 carried by an arm 232 secured to the main frame, the stop 231 being in position to accurately stop the pivotal movement of the shelf when it is in position to deliver pins to the rear set of .chutes 223. The shelf is returned to normal position by a spring 233 secured at one end to the shelf and at the other end to the main frame 35.

The pins are arranged in the distributing frame substantially in the triangular arrangement in which they are to be placed upon the alley bed. In the operation of the machine the pin setter frame may contain ten pins, the distributing frame ten more and the shelf may accommodate nine others before actuation. Through appropriate mechanisms and devices the'pins in the dis- "tributing frame are received automatically 

